With Acting — Driving Change, we explore the fifth category* of the Inner Development Goals (IDG). Traditional leadership frameworks may include elements such as results-orientation, setting SMART goals, delegation, or follow-up when it comes to acting. Surprisingly, the IDG focus is on four entirely different skills and qualities that form the foundation of driving change:
1) COURAGE (4:03 mins): ability to stand up for values, make decisions, take decisive action and, if need be, challenge and disrupt existing structures and views.
Courage is not the absence of fear. It's learning to overcome it.
Fear can be evoked by a perceived need to control results when outcomes are always uncertain.
Reflection Questions for Leaders:
2) CREATIVITY (13:05 mins): ability to generate and develop original ideas, innovate and being willing to disrupt conventional patterns.
Perceived dilemma: need to be productive vs. having time to be creative.
Creativity is not only about entirely new original ideas; sometimes it's just "connecting the dots".
Reflection Questions:
3) OPTIMISM (24:43 mins): ability to sustain and communicate a sense of hope, positive attitude and confidence in the possibility of meaningful change.
Optimism does not mean being overly positive or ignoring the difficult or negative aspects of a situation. It is about seeing possibilities while maintaining realistic.
Reflection Questions:
4) PERSEVERANCE (32:13 mins): ability to sustain engagement and remain determined and patient even when efforts take a long time to bear fruit.
Not giving up easily and exercising resilience in the face of adversity, and persistence is shown to be the biggest predictor of people's success; it is more important than IQ. Perseverance and persistence are related to grit, which is based on an individual's drive and desire for a particular long term goal, thus linking back to intrinsic motivation.
Reflection Questions:
More info about us and our work is also on our website: secondcrackleadership.com
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Martin Aldergård
Gerrit Pelzer
*Our earlier IDG Episodes:
Why Successful Leaders Focus on "Being" before "Doing"
The Thinking Skills You Never Thought of
A Fresh Perspective on Improving Relationships at Work
Five Critical Skills to Boost Collaboration in Your Organisation